Production was 1,835,000 tons in the week ending 3 May 2013, while the capability utilization then was 76.6%. The current week production represents a 1.1% decrease from the same period in the previous year. Production for the week ending 3 May 2014 is down 1.1% from the previous week ending 26 April 2014 when production was 1,835,000 tons and the rate of capability utilization was 76.3%.
 
Adjusted year-to-date production through 3 May 2014 was 32,089, tons, at a capability utilization rate of 76.0%. That is a 0.8% decrease from the 32,359 tons during the same period last year, when the capability utilization rate was 76.9%.
 
Broken down by districts, here's production for the week ending 3 May 2014 in thousands of tons: North East: 221; Great Lakes: 608; Midwest: 247; Southern: 651 and Western: 88 for a total of 1,815.
 
The raw steel production tonnage provided in this AISI report is estimated. The figures are compiled from weekly production tonnage provided from 50% of the domestic producers combined with monthly production data for the remainder. Therefore, this report should be used primarily to assess production trends. The AISI production report “AIS 7,” published monthly and available by subscription, provides a more detailed summary of steel production based on data supplied by companies representing over three quarters of U.S. production capacity.
 
Capability for the second quarter 2014 is approximately 31.3 million tons versus 31.1 million tons for the same period last year and 31.5 million tons for the first quarter of 2014.  Production capability for 2014 reflects the closure of several steelmaking facilities in 2012, new facilities coming on-line and improvements made to existing facilities to increase their capability.